The tone is getting louder in the wage negotiations for 50,000 railway workers. The trade union vida is demanding 500 euros more for everyone. For employers, that would be an unrealistic 18 percent plus.
It is quite unusual for the workers to break off after the first “real” round of negotiations on 4 October and want to get the green light from the works councils for possible countermeasures. But apparently it was rowed back on Monday. It now only says that the requirements must be met and that a new appointment with employers “before October 21” is needed, otherwise work meetings will be held.
Employer wants to cover inflation
With “500 euros more gross for everyone”, vida boss Roman Hebenstreit and his negotiator Günter Blumthaler are clearly deliberately provocative. According to the employers, that would correspond to an “unrealistic” salary increase of 18 percent. The ÖBB alone cost 320 million euros. In the first conversation, however, they offered to at least cover inflation.
The wage negotiations for the approximately 50,000 rail employees are expected to become tough. There are 82 companies (not including the Wiener Linien) under negotiation. But ÖBB alone has about 40,000 employees and the union has traditionally had a strong position there.
Due to the price increases, “workers need a social partner rescue package as soon as possible so that they can continue to pay their current bills,” Hebenstreit said. The last time there was a two-hour warning strike was in 2018.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
